Phil Brody

I really enjoyed this satirical look at modern day Hollywood. The author is trying to pound home the point that the writing in the movies of today is pretty lousy, a point of which I totally agree, and he writes a novel to illustrate the point.
When I first saw this title I assumed the Holden in the title was one of my favorite actors William Holden, but instead it referred to fictional screenwriter Meyer Holden, a one hit wonder, who walks away from the biz, and goes into seclusion. But he hasn't totally gone away, he floats his works out in the ocean of screenplays under pseudonyms waiting for them to be discovered. When one of them is and is turned into a giant moneymaker, the hunt is on for another diamond in the rough.… (más)

When Sam Bateman was going through his late father's effects, he discovered a whole treasure trove of screenplays. All had been declined by the same Hollywood development company. Fueled by a desire for revenge, Bateman sells everything and relocates to Hollywood where he begins to carry out a plan to get even. His plan for revenge is derailed when he goes on a search for the reclusive Meyer Holden, a screenwriter who after several successes went into hiding and has not been heard from since. Occasionally, a screenplay surfaces that has all the characteristics of a Holden, but it is next to impossible to prove. Sam becomes obsessed to the point of ending almost all relationships.

I couldn't help but wonder if the author was trying to make an ironic, inside joke with the choice of the character's name. Meyer Holden is similar to Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of J. D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. Meyer Holden is similar to Salinger in that he is a writer who, at the height of his success has decided to go into hiding and refuses to write, despite public protests. There were enough references to Hollywood history to hold my interest and the plot was interesting most of the time, but the characters were not appealing.

3 stars

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Innovative Online Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Innovative Online Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*… (más)